New public toilets going down the drain

District administration and LMC undecided as to who will operate these facilities

LAHORE: Despite the fact that the construction of eight public toilets has been completed, it is yet to be decided which public entity will manage these facilities.

Citizens in the provincial capital continue to face problems due to the lack of public toilets.

The Lahore Division commissioner, instead of taking all the departments into confidence, issued directions to the Communication and Works Department around six months ago to construct eight public toilets in different areas.

These facilities have been established in some areas, including Lorry Adda, AC Raiwind, NADRA office, Iqbal Town and Harbanspura. About 90% of the work has been completed.



These public toilets were constructed at a cost of Rs280 million, but now the question of who will run these facilities remains unanswered. The district administration and Lahore Metropolitan Corporation (LMC) have failed to make key operational decisions and sources said the main reason for this was the lack of coordination between them. Therefore, the responsibility has now been placed on the local government’s shoulders.

According to Commissioner Office Spokesman Dr Muhammad Masood, several public toilets are being run by LMC and therefore it cannot manage these latest facilities.

LMC Officer Sarfraz Ahmed said details of the land owned by the departments and the location of these public toilets should be provided in writing. He added work should be completed in localities where there are no lights and other facilities. “The responsibility to manage these facilities should be given to LMC.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2019.